Ever turned on your Mac and thought, “Why is this taking forever?” Yeah, it isn’t very pleasant.
You just want to get to work (or scroll the web), but your Mac seems to be dragging its feet. What’s going on?
Well, here’s the thing. When your Mac boots up, it also tries to open a bunch of apps in the background.
These are called startup programs. Some of them you need. Most of them? Not really.
These apps jump in without asking and start using your Mac’s memory, CPU, and battery. That’s why your Mac feels slow, warm, and just not as snappy as it used to be.
And if you’re on a laptop, these apps can eat up your battery life too, before you even open a browser.
But don’t worry. You’re not stuck with this. I’ll walk you through how to find these startup apps and turn them off.
It’s simple, and once you do it, your Mac will feel faster, lighter, and just way better to use.
What’s making your Mac slow?
1. Too many apps starting automatically
When you turn on your Mac, it should be ready to go. But if it feels like it’s stuck loading forever, it’s probably because too many apps are starting up at the same time.
These apps all fight for your Mac’s attention, and that slows everything down.
2. Apps using up memory in the background
Even after your Mac finishes starting up, those apps don’t go away. They sit there, running in the background, and quietly use your system memory.
That leaves less memory for the things you actually want to do—like editing a photo or watching a video.
3. Battery draining faster than usual
If you’re using a MacBook and your battery is dying quickly, startup apps might be to blame. Even when you’re not using them, they’re running and using power.
That’s why turning them off can help your battery last longer.
So yeah, those startup apps seem small, but they can cause big problems over time. Let’s fix that.
How to disable unused startup programs on Mac
Alright, let’s get into it. I’ll show you a few different ways to stop those apps from opening every time you turn on your Mac.
Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think. And once you do it, you’ll notice the difference.
#1. Turn off startup apps using System Settings
This is the easiest way, and probably the one you’ll use most often.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Go to General >Login Items & Extensions.
- You’ll see a list of apps that open automatically when your Mac starts.
- Select the app you don’t want, then click the minus (-) button to remove it.
That’s it. You’ve just stopped one app from slowing down your Mac. Go through the list and remove anything you don’t need right away.
#2. Remove startup items through Finder
Some apps don’t show up in System Settings. They hide in folders and still launch at startup. Let’s find them.
Here’s how:
- Open Finder.
- Press Command + Shift + G to open the “Go to Folder” window.
- Type
~/Library/StartupItemsand press Enter.
- If you see any folders or files here that you don’t recognize or don’t need, drag them to the Trash.
Be careful. Only delete items you’re sure about. If you’re not sure, just leave it for now.
#3. Use a cleanup app to manage startup items
If you want a faster, more automatic way to do this, you can use a third-party app.
These apps are designed to help clean up your Mac and manage startup items in one place.
Here’s how it works:
- Download a trusted app like CleanMyMac or CCleaner.
- Install and open the app.
- Look for a section called Startup Items or Login Items.
- The app will show you everything that runs at startup.
- Turn off the ones you don’t want with just one click.
These apps are super helpful if you want to do a full Mac cleanup, not just manage startup programs.
#4. Check your Dock and Login Items manually
Sometimes, when you add an app to your Dock, macOS adds it to your login items too. Let’s double-check.
- Right-click on the app in your Dock.
- Hover over Options.
- If Open at Login is checked, click it to turn it off.
This stops the app from opening every time you start your Mac.
#5. Restart your Mac to check the difference
Once you’ve removed the unnecessary startup items, go ahead and restart your Mac.
You should notice it starts up faster and feels a bit more responsive.
If not, repeat the steps and check again. Some apps are sneaky and might add themselves back.
Extra tips to keep your Mac running fast
Okay, now that you’ve cleared out the startup mess, let’s talk about a few more tips to keep your Mac in great shape.
1. Do regular checkups
Every few months, take a few minutes to check your login items again. Apps can sneak back in, especially after updates.
A quick look keeps things tidy and your Mac running smoothly.
2. Keep your macOS updated
Updates aren’t just about new features—they often fix bugs and improve performance.
Go to the Apple menu, click System Settings, then General > Software Update to check for updates.
3. Clear out cache files
Over time, your Mac collects temporary files that can slow it down. Use a cleanup tool like CleanMyMac or do it manually.
Just don’t forget to back things up before deleting anything.
4. Use only what you need
When you start your Mac, try to keep things minimal. Don’t open 10 apps at once. Keep your desktop clean too.
The less your Mac has to load, the faster it will feel.
The takeaway
Startup programs might seem harmless, but they can really slow down your Mac over time.
We talked about how to find and remove them using System Settings, Finder, and third-party tools. And remember, not every app that starts up is something you actually need.
One big myth is that these apps are needed for your Mac to work. They’re not. You get to choose what runs and what doesn’t. That’s the beauty of it.
So go ahead—clean things up. Restart your Mac. See how much faster it feels. It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll feel the difference right away.
Got a question or a tip of your own? Drop it in the comments below. Let’s help each other out.
